loosen

[ loo-suhn ]

/ ˈlu sən /

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See synonyms for: loosen / loosened / loosening / loosens on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to unfasten or undo, as a bond or fetter.

to make less tight; slacken or relax: to loosen one's grasp.

to make less firmly fixed in place: to loosen a tooth.

to let loose or set free from bonds, restraint, or constraint.

to make less close or compact in structure or arrangement.

to make less dense or coherent: to loosen the soil in a garden.

to relax in strictness or severity, as restraint or discipline: to loosen restrictions on trade.

to relieve (the bowels) of their constipated condition.

verb (used without object)

to become loose or looser (sometimes followed by up): His hold loosened. Your shoes will loosen up with wear.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of loosen

First recorded in 1350–1400, loosen is from the Middle English word loosnen.See loose, -en¹

OTHER WORDS FROM loosen

loos·en·er, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH loosen

loose, loosen , lose

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use loosen in a sentence

Earlier this year, Apple also loosened restrictions on some cloud-gaming apps and email services, charging a fee to fewer developers.
Apple to cut app store fees in half for most developers|Verne Kopytoff|November 18, 2020|Fortune
For months, Desmond has been making the case on his podcast and from his seat on the Board of Supervisors that public health officials should loosen their restrictions.
San Diegans Are Worried, But They Have Not Lost Trust|Scott Lewis and Kara Grant|November 3, 2020|Voice of San Diego
This power to lift or loosen obligations can certainly be used for good.
The government’s hidden superpower: ‘Unrules’|matthewheimer|October 30, 2020|Fortune
Record numbers of people are voting early or requesting absentee ballots in Virginia as the coronavirus pandemic and newly loosened election laws reshape voting habits here during this year’s presidential election.
Virginia voting guide: What to know about early voting, mail-in ballots|Antonio Olivo, Patricia Sullivan|October 28, 2020|Washington Post

Cases now attach via magnet, which allows them to loosen their death grip on the edges of your device.
The iPhone 12 Pro is a big upgrade even without the 5G hype|Stan Horaczek|October 28, 2020|Popular-Science
In 2013, the state legislature passed a sweeping charter school bill pushed by Mitchell that loosened oversight and regulation.
At This Creepy Libertarian Charter School, Kids Must Swear ‘to Be Obedient to Those in Authority’|ProPublica|October 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But recently, the MPAA has loosened the stick in its collective ass and allowed women to go there whilst maintaining an R rating.
Oral Sex Comes of Age in Hollywood: ‘Gone Girl’ the Latest Film to Showcase Female Pleasure|Marlow Stern|October 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In 2017, those reins will be loosened, and Hongkongers will be able to vote for their Chief Executive.
Is Hong Kong Tiananmen 2.0?|Brendon Hong|September 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Under Morsi, the border loosened up and Hamas, clearly, had an ally.
Gazans Turn Their Rage on the Arab Leaders Who Watched Them Die|Jesse Rosenfeld|August 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Soon enough, he loosened his Pierre Cardin belt,” she writes.
His Reputation Precedes Him: Dov Charney’s Blacklist|Justin Jones|June 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Edna, left alone in the little side room, loosened her clothes, removing the greater part of them.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
Frank loosened his sword from its fastenings and took a revolver in his left hand, in which he also held the reins.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
"Yes—no," she answered, nestling so close to him that the rose in her dress was loosened and fell to the ground.
The Cromptons|Mary J. Holmes
In a trice he speeded up the Comet and leaped forward toward the caon, sand and loosened pebbles dropping all around him.
Motor Matt's "Century" Run|Stanley R. Matthews
As soon as the ground is cool enough it may be loosened up and pulverized.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.

British Dictionary definitions for loosen

loosen

/ (ˈluːsən) /

verb

to make or become less tight, fixed, etc

(often foll by up) to make or become less firm, compact, or rigid

(tr) to untie

(tr) to let loose; set free

(often foll by up) to make or become less strict, severe, etc

(tr) to rid or relieve (the bowels) of constipation

Derived forms of loosen

loosener, noun

Word Origin for loosen

C14: from loose

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

loosen

Origin of loosen

OTHER WORDS FROM loosen

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH loosen

Words related to loosen

How to use loosen in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for loosen

Derived forms of loosen

Word Origin for loosen